Teatro Nacional opening soon – for visits only

THE TEATRO NACIONAL (National Theatre in the heart of Casco Viejo, closed in June 2015, will be re-opening its doors soon, but only for visits.

Artistic performances like ballet, orchestral renderings, opera,  plays, and even the Panama International Film Festival will have to wait for the unforeseeable future

The announcement came Tuesday, March 29, 2016, after the delivery of  the technical study carried out on the historic structure  by  the Technological University of Panama (UTP).
Asked for a full re-opening date Janelle Davidson, director of the National Institute of Culture (INAC) said “We have no idea,”

Davidson said that before making a decision t certain processes must be met. “We hope it will be as soon as possible,” she added.
The report delivered Tuesday makes  a number of recommendations to improve the structure of the theater, built in 1908. Among them are work on the ceiling and support .columns are included.
Davidson President Juan Carlos Varela is committed to providing the necessary funds for the work.
Meanwhile, Ramiro Vargas, director of  the experimental and engineering center at UTP, said that the report is extensive and comprehensive. “This is a structure adjacent to the sea. In more than 100 years there has been significant deterioration with fungi and yeasts” discovered” he said.
Vargas added that the pollution must be addressed with fiberglass. “We cannot anticipate the  duration or  cost of the works right now,” he said.